Necklace with means for shortening the effective length thereof



Feb. 23, 1965 s. F. RA AEL 3,

NECKLACE; WITH us F SHORTENING THE F TI LENGTH THEREOF ed Sept. 24, 1962 INVENTOR Sully F. Raphael NECKLACE WITH MEANS FOR SHORTENING THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH THEREUE Sally F. Raphael, 128 N. Craig St., Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed Sept. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 225,742

2 Claims. (Cl. 63-2) This invention. relates to an article of jewelry and attachment, It relates more particularly to an article of jewelry comprising an. elongated element adapted to have its effective length shortened without actually removing any portion thereof and to an attachment comprising pivoted links to which the ends of an'elongated element of an article of jewelry may be attached so that each link and the adjacent end portion of theelongated element may assume a natural generally aligned position when'the article of jewelry is Worn in any fashion.

My invention is applicable to any article of jewelry comprising an elongated'element, such, for example, as a necklace or bracelet. Forpurposes of explanation and illustration the invention will be described and shown as embodied in a necklace comprising a string of heads the ends of which are connected by an attachment of the type above mentioned.

I provide an article of jewelry comprising an elongated element, an attachment comprising a pivotmember, a hook and two links each 'pivotally connected with the pivot member, the ends of the elongated element being connected respectively with the outer ends of the links, the elongated element having a hook receiving portion intermediate its ends so thatthe effective length of the article of jewelry may be' shortened by hooping the hook of the attachment ontothe hook receiving portion of the elongated element, the pivoted connectionsof the links with the pivot member of the attachment permitting each link and the adjacent end portion of the elongated element to assume a natural generally aligned position when the article of jewelry, is worn whether or not the hook is hooked onto the hook receiving portion of the elongated element. The hook receiving portion ofthe elongated element preferably includes means restraining the hook from substantial movement along the elongated element when the hook is hooked onto such portion. In a preferred form the elongated element is a string of beads;,the beads of an'adjacent pair of beads between which the hook is adapted to be hooked restrain the hook from substantial movement along the string of beads. In such form the beads of each pair of adjacent beads constitute means restraining the hook from substantial movement along the string of heads when the hook is hooked onto the string of beads therebetween.

My jewelry attachment preferably comprises opposed slightly spaced apart plates together with a pivot member extending between the plates, two links each pivotally connected with the pivot member and having it outer end projecting out from between the plates and means for connecting the ends of an elongated jewelry element to the outer ends of the respective links. The links are i preferably each free to pivot through a complete circle of 360 about the pivot member. The plates are preferably generally circular with the pivot member, which I 'will'become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

United States Patent FIGURE 3 is a plan 3,170,311 PatentedgFeb. 23, 1965' FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a necklace as worn in single strand fashion; I

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the necklace shown in FIGURE 1 but as worn in double strand fashion as shortened or converted'from the single strand fashion of FIGURE 1;

necklace;

FIGURE 4 is an edge view of the attachment as viewed from the right in FIGURE 3; FIGURE 5 is an edge view of the attachment as viewed from below' in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of FIGURE 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a necklaoe designated generally by reference numeral 2 which comprisesa string of beads. string of beads consists of an elongated flexible member 3 upon which heads 4 are strung. The elongated flexible member 3 may be a string, cord, wire, chain or other.

member suitable for the stringing of beads thereon. The

heads 4 may be of any suitable material each provided with a bore therethrough so thatit may be strung upon the element 3.

' I provide an attachment designated generally by referfastened-to the rivet are sleeves 9 whose inner extremities a complete circle of 360 about the rivet.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which- I One of the plates 6 has 10 are spaced apart. Pivoted to the rivet 7 between the sleeves 9 are'two links 11; Each of the links .11 has at one'end an opening 12 through whichthe rivet passes, the diameter of the opening beingslightly greater than the diameter of the central portion of the rivet 7 between the sleeves 9. Thus each of the links 11 is pivotally mounted on the rivet for free turning movementthereabout with its outer end projecting outfrom between the edges '8 of the plates 6. The links 11 are free to pivot through Each link has an opening 13 therethrough adjacent its outer end. a hook"14 fastened to the outer face thereof.

The string of heads 2 has its ends connected with the outer or projecting ends of the links 11 respectively by any suitable connecting devices such as spring rings 15 passing through the openings 13. j 1

When the necklace is worn as a single strand necklace as shown in FIGURE 1 it extends about the neck of the wearer in a single loop with each link 11 and the adjacent end portion of the string of heads 2 assuming a natural generally aligned position. The links 11 extend general- 1y in oppositedirections from the rivet7 if the attachment 5 is disposed at the wearers neck or in either of the generally vertical reaches of the necklace extending downwardly in front of the wearer. If the attachment 5 is disposed at the bottom of the front portion of the loop the links 11 extend generally upwardly more nearly parallel to each other. Thus the links 11 by reason of-their pivotal connection with the rivet 7 will-always assume a natural; position generally in alignment with the respective adjacent ends of the string of beads.

termediate the ends thereof. The hook is hooked onto the element 3 between two heads 4 of an adjacent pair of beads, such beads restraining the hook114 from subview of the attachment of the The i The necklace may have its effective length shortened j without actually removing any portion thereof and converted into a double strand necklace as shown in FIGURE- 2 by hooking the hook 14 onto the string of beads inthe necklace is worn in this fashion the two links 11 will extend out from the rivet 7 almost parallel to each other and again will assume a natural position each generally aligned with the adjacent end of the string of beads.

Thus the attachment 5 may function either in the na ture of a clasp holding the ends of the string of beads together when the necklace is worn as a single strand necklace or as a shortener or converter when the necklace is worn as a double strand necklace. In whatever fashion the necklace is worn the links 11 due to their being freely pivoted upon the rivet 7 assume a natural position generally in alignment with the respective ends of the string of beads connected therewith.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: I

1. An article of jewelry comprising an elongated element, an attachment comprising opposed slightly spaced apart facing elements, a pivot member of generally pin form extending between the facing elements, the facing elements being connected to the pivot member, a hook connected with one of the facing elements and two generally elongated links each pivotally connected with the pivot member and having its outer end projecting out from between the facing elements, the links being completely separate from the hook, the ends of the elongated element being connected respectively with the outer ends of the links, the elongated element having intermediate its ends a hook receiving portion of such size as to enter the hook so that the effective length of the article of jewelry may be shortened by hooking the hook of the attachment onto the hook receiving portion of the elongated element, the pivotal connections of the links with the pivot member of the attachment comprising openings in the links through which the pivot member passes, said attachment including means permittingeach link and the adjacent end portion'of the elongated element to, turn through a complete circle about the pivot member and permitting the links to assume a natural generally aligned position when the article of jewelry is worn whether or not the hook is hooked onto the hook receiving portion of the elongated element.

2. An article of jewelry comprising a string of beads comprising an elongated flexible member and beads having openings through which the elongated flexible member passes, an attachment comprising opposed slightly spaced apart facing elements, a pivot member of generally pin form extending between the facing elements, the facing elements being connected to the pivot member, a hook connected with one of the facing elements and two generally elongated links each pivotally connected with the pivot member and having its outer end projecting out from between the facing elements, the links being completely separate from the hook, the ends of the string of beads being connected respectively with the outer ends of the links, the elongated flexible member being of such size as to enter the hook so that the effective length of the article of jewelry may be shortened by hooking the hook of the attachment onto the elongated flexible member intermediate beads strung thereon, the pivotal connections of the links with the pivot member of the attachment comprising openings in the links through which the pivot member passes, said attachment including means permitting each link and the adjacent end portion of the string of beads to turn through a complete circle about the pivot member and permitting the links to assume a natural generally aligned position when the article of jewelry is worn whether or not the hook is hooked onto the elongated flexible member intermediate beads strung thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS 669,382 Carter Mar. 5, 1901 1,138,405 Pearce May 4, 1915 1,259,388 Gagnon Mar. 12,1918 1,468,013 Exposito Sept. 18, 1923 1,607,434 Carlson Nov. 23, 1926 1,704,919 Murray Mar. 12, 1929 1,797,703 Sulger et al Mar. 24, 1931 1,847,595 Cartier Mar. 1, 1932 2,086,468 Bryan July 6, 1937 2,128,804 Donaldson Aug. 30, 1938 2,200,044 Shannon May 7, 1940 2,521,589 Livingston Sept. 5, 1950 3,045,469 Rentscher et a1. July 24, 1962 

1. AN ARTICLE OF JEWELRY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ELEMENT, AN ATTACHMENT COMPRISING OPPOSED SLIGHTLY SPACED APART FACING ELEMENTS, A PIVOT MEMBER OF GENERALLY PIN FORM EXTENDING BETWEEN THE FACING ELEMENTS, THE FACING ELEMENTS BEING CONNECTED TO THE PIVOT MEMBER, A HOOK CONNECTED WITH ONE OF THE FACING ELEMENTS AND TWO GENERALLY ELONGATED LINKS EACH PIVOTALLY CONNECTED WITH THE PIVOT MEMBER AND HAVING ITS OUTER END PROJECTING OUT FROM BETWEEN THE FACING ELEMENTS, THE LINKS BEING COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE HOOK, THE ENDS OF THE ELONGATED ELEMENT BEING CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY WITH THE OUTER ENDS OF THE LINKS, THE ELONGATED ELEMENT HAVING INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS A HOOK RECEIVING PORTION OF SUCH SIZE AS TO ENTER THE HOOK SO THAT THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF THE ARTICLE OF JEWELRY MAY BE SHORTENED BY HOOKING THE HOOK OF THE ATTACHMENT ONTO THE HOOK RECEIVING PORTION OF THE ELONGATED ELEMENT, THE PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS OF THE LINKS WITH THE PIVOT MEMBER OF THE ATTACHMENT COMPRISING OPENINGS IN THE LINKS THROUGH WHICH THE PIVOT MEMBER PASSES, SAID ATTACHMENT INCLUDING MEANS PERMITTING EACH LINK AND THE ADJACENT END PORTION OF THE ELONGATED ELEMENT TO TURN THROUGH A COMPLETE CIRCLE ABOUT THE PIVOT MEMBER AND PERMITTING THE LINKS TO ASSUME A NATURAL GENERALLY ALIGNED POSITION WHEN THE ARTICLE OF JEWELRY IS WORN WHETHER OR NOT THE HOOK IS HOOKED ONTO THE HOOK RECEIVING PORTION OF THE ELONGATED ELEMENT. 